Search

The dye released from the industrial activities are the primary source for organic pollutants and it will not only degrade the quality of water but also alters the physiochemical characteristics of water too. There are various physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods are available. Though, these techniques are not sufficient to cater the needs for cost-effective treatment. Thus, the industries are discharging the excess wastewater without any prior treatment. Commercially available activated carbon was the most used adsorbent for dye remediation technique in industries. However, biomass derived biosorbents are the most recent alternate to activated carbon due to the abundance availability, enriched sorption capacity and low-cost in synthesis. Dyes used in the textile industries are owing to its colouring nature. This colouring compounds are designed to resist biodegradation tendency. Thus, the conventional wastewater treatment technique become ineffective in dye sequestration operations. Therefore, a new-fangled method needs to be applied for this dye sequestration. With this context, this review collects the disseminated information related to possibility and practicability of biomass derived biosorbent for bioremediation of dyes.

Biochar has a global scientific attention for its ability to remove toxic elements from wastewaters. However, due to the disparity between practical short-term agronomic benefits and aspirations of biochar as an everlasting sustainable bio sorbent for the adsorption process, economic assessments of biochar have yet to be established. In this context, the current study, an economic approach of the biochars derived from agricultural wastes (Coconut shell, Groundnut Shell and Rice husk) for the removal of Basic Red 09 from wastewaters were demonstrated. Batch adsorption experimental set up was used to carry out the adsorption process. At equilibrium batch adsorption conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity of the biochars were 10, 46.3, and 44 ​mg/g for coconut shell, groundnut shell, and rice husk based biochars, respectively. A complete cost assessment was carried out for the agro-waste biochars for their adsorption performance. The biochars derived from groundnut shell and rice husk were shown to be the most cost effective for the Basic Red 09 sequestration from wastewater. The eco-friendly characteristics of these low-cost adsorbents for industrial applications were also discussed.

Diagnosis and management of spinal injuries require a multidisciplinary approach. Imaging plays a fundamental role in demonstration of injury patterns and influences therapeutic planning. This review article discusses the common imaging modalities used in evaluation of spinal trauma. The strength and weakness of different imaging techniques is described in light of current knowledge and evidence. An imaging strategy based on review of the literature is suggested.

The computational studies namely molecular docking simulations and Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) are executed on series of 52 novel aryl chalcones derivatives using Plasmodium falciparum cysteine proteases (falcipain - 2) as vital target. In the present study, the correlation between different molecular field effects namely steric and electrostatic interactions and chemical structures to the inhibitory activities of novel aryl chalcone derivatives is inferred to perceive the major structural prerequisites for the rational design and development of potent and novel lead anti-malarial compound. The apparent binding conformations of all the compounds at the active site of falcipain - 2 and the hydrogen-bond interactions which could be used to modify the inhibitory activities are identified by using Surflex-dock study. Statistically significant CoMFA model has been developed with the cross-validated correlation coefficient (q(2)) of 0.912 and the non-cross-validated correlation coefficient (r(2)) of 0.901. Standard error of estimation (SEE) of 0.210, with the optimum number of components is ten. The predictability of the derived model is examined with a test set consists of sixteen compounds and the predicted r(2) value is found to be 0.924. The docking and QSAR study results confer crucial suggestions for the optimization of novel 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one derivatives and synthesis of effective anti- malarial compounds.

Symptoms of lower gastrointestinal (GI) disease are common and frequently trigger consultation in primary and secondary care. Diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation are presentations of a wide range of different underlying pathologies, from chronic, benign, functional conditions to acutely life-threatening emergencies. Lower GI bleeding is often due to serious pathology and requires rational investigation based on a systematic clinical assessment. Extra-intestinal manifestations of lower GI disease can often give a clue to the underlying diagnosis. In this contribution, we review the aetiology, clinical features, investigations and management for a range of lower GI symptoms, namely diarrhoea, constipation, lower GI bleeding, bloating and abdominal pain.

Introduction Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is emerging as a new therapeutic modality in recent years for management of non-resectable hepatic malignancies. Our experience in clinical application of this treatment is reported here. Material and methods From June 2004, patients whose liver tumours were no longer amenable for any conventional treatment with either chemotherapy or surgery were considered for yttrium-90 microspheres treatment after discussion at our multidisciplinary meeting. A pre-treatment planning was carried out with visceral angiography and technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (MAA) for assessment of both tumour volume and extrahepatic shunting in addition to a baseline PET and CT scans, respectively. Two weeks later, a second visceral angiogram was performed to deliver the calculated dosage of microspheres into the arterial system supplying the tumour. Patients were then followed up with tumour markers, repeat PET and CT scans of abdomen at 6 weeks and 3 monthly thereafter. Result Twenty-one patients (F = 11, M = 10; age range 40–75 years, mean = 58 years) received yttrium-90 microspheres consisting of liver metastases from colorectal primary ( n = 10) and non-colorectal primaries ( n = 8), and primary liver tumours ( n = 3). One patient received 2 treatments. The mean administered activity of microspheres delivered was 1.9 GBq (range 1.2–2.5 GBq). Injection of microspheres had no immediate effect on either clinical haematology or liver function tests. At follow-up, 86% of patients showed decreased activity on PET scan at 6 weeks ( p = 0.01). The mean pre-treatment SUV was 12.2 ± 3.7 and the mean post-treatment SUV was 9.3 ± 3.7, indicating a significant improvement measured with PET activity. Only 13% showed a reduction in the size of tumour on CT scan. For patients with colorectal liver metastases, there was no significant reduction in CEA level (127 ± 115 vs 75 ± 72 μ/l, p = 0.39). Complications were seen in 4 patients (19%) including radiation hepatitis ( n = 2), cholecystitis ( n = 1) and duodenal ulceration ( n = 1). All resolved without surgical intervention. Seven patients died at follow-up from progressive extrahepatic disease (33%). Conclusion SIRT should be considered for patients with advanced liver cancer. It has a significant effect on liver disease in the absence of extrahepatic disease. PET imaging has an integral role in the assessment of patients treated with yttrium-90 SIR-Spheres.

Abdominal pain represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the gastroenterologist and the general physician. An accurate history and diagnostic framework are essential to ensure that serious physical illness is not missed, and that psychological causes of abdominal pain are not reinforced by excessive investigation. Understanding of the pathophysiology of abdominal pain, and its common presentations, allows the skilled physician to quickly establish the diagnosis. Visceral pain is typically poorly localized, unlike somatic pain, which is well localized and sharp in nature, typically reflecting inflammation of the pleura, peritoneum or diaphragm. Referred pain is felt distant from the affected organ due to activation of dermatomal somatic nerves. This article focuses on the diagnosis and management of acute abdominal pain, and explains common presentations, including hepatobiliary, epigastric, pancreatic and lower abdominal pain. Although in most cases this diagnostic approach will provide the physician with the likely diagnosis, there are several groups of patients, including the elderly and immunosuppressed, in whom this approach is inadequate. By being alert to the atypical presentations described, these challenging patients can be successfully managed.

Symptoms of lower gastrointestinal (GI) disease are common and frequently trigger consultation in primary and secondary care. Diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation are presentations of a wide range of different underlying pathologies, from chronic, benign, functional conditions to acutely life-threatening emergencies. Lower GI bleeding is often due to serious pathology and requires rational investigation based on a systematic clinical assessment. Extra-intestinal manifestations of lower GI disease can often give a clue to the underlying diagnosis. In this contribution, we review the aetiology, clinical features, investigations and management for a range of lower GI symptoms, namely diarrhoea, constipation, lower GI bleeding, bloating and abdominal pain.

Capsule endoscopy uses a disposable capsule that can image the entire small bowel. This area of the gastrointestinal tract is difficult to examine with conventional endoscopy because of patient discomfort and limits to how far the enteroscope can be advanced into the small bowel. The capsule weighs 3.7 g and is small enough to be swallowed (30 mm × 11 mm). Within the capsule are a camera, an LED light source, a short focal length lens, batteries and a radio telemetry transmitter. As the capsule passes through the gastrointestinal tract by peristalsis, images of the bowel wall are obtained by the camera at a rate of two per second and transmitted to a recorder worn by the patient on a belt. These are subsequently downloaded and reviewed as a video file on a computer workstation. The battery life of the capsule is about 7—8 hours, which is sufficient for passage through the entire small bowel in most patients. The capsule is passed naturally, and because it is disposable does not need to be retrieved by the patient. Views of the stomach and colon are also obtained by capsule endoscopy, but are inferior to those obtained at gastroscopy or colonoscopy.

Since the T cell receptor of γδ T cells is associated with CD3 molecules, it is a reasonable postulate that signal transduction through CD3 would occur in γδ T cells as it does in αβ T cells. However, while a small percentage of bovine γδ T cells divided in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to stimulation by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) the majority of viable γδ T cells at the end of the culture period had not. This was assessed by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) loading of cells and flow cytometric analysis here and previously [Res. Vet. Sci. 69 (2000) 275]. When intracytoplasmic staining for interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was also used here to assess activation through CD3, a small proportion of γδ T cells (approximately 14%) produced IFN-γ during the first 4 h of culture and by 72 h of culture that number had doubled. By comparison, a much larger proportion of CD4 and CD8 T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb divided and although the percentage of CD4 and CD8 T cells that produced IFN-γ at 4 h was similar to that of γδ T cells, by 72 h the majority of CD4 and CD8 T cells were IFN-γ + . Addition of IL-2 did not increase the proportion of γδ T cells that responded to anti-CD3 stimulation by cell division. To test the hypothesis that γδ T cells were inhibited from responding by other mononuclear cell populations within PBMC, monocytes were removed from the PBMC or γδ T cells were purified by magnetic-bead sorting. Only a small distinct population of the sorted cells underwent multiple cell divisions in response to anti-CD3 mAb and removal of monocytes resulted in only a moderate increase in γδ T cell replication. The anti-CD3 mAb stimulation system may provide a useful system to evaluate the difference in the requirements for activation and clonal expansion for γδ T cells versus αβ T cells.

Bovine peripheral blood gammadelta T cells have been evaluated for effector function (IFN-gamma production) and clonal expansion in a variety of systems including following activation by mitogens, IL-12, and stimulation, through the T cell receptor (TCR) with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), a cell-bound molecule and a soluble antigenic extract. To evaluate cell division, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) loading of cells and flow cytometric analysis were used, while IFN-gamma production was evaluated by intracytoplasmic staining. It was found that bovine gammadelta T cells produced IFN-gamma and clonally expanded when stimulated through the TCR/CD3 complex by a cell-associated autologous molecule on monocyte, by bacterial components following in vivo sensitization of gammadelta T cells with a leptospira vaccine or by anti-CD3 mAb. In addition, gammadelta T cells were activated efficiently for effector function but not clonal expansion by culturing with IL-12. In contrast, stimulation by Con A or PMA/ionomycin induced efficient replication but only low level IFN-gamma production which was not enhanced by the presence of IL-12. In several systems the amount of IFN-gamma produced per cell by gammadelta T cells was less than that produced by CD4 T cells in the same cultures.

Sclerosing cholangitis due to Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare cause of end-stage liver disease, seen mainly in children. Only a few adult cases have been reported worldwide. Liver transplantation may be a viable treatment option for what is otherwise an irreversible condition. We describe a 65-year-old female with LCH who developed severe sclerosing cholangitis with jaundice, intractable pruritus and peritoneal disease. She underwent orthotopic liver transplantation with complete amelioration of symptoms and remained well 14 months following her operation. Explant histology confirmed LCH involvement with an associated extensive sclerosing cholangitis. Symptomatic LCH cholangiopathy is an emerging indication for liver transplantation in adults.

Background & Aims Symptoms suggestive of colorectal cancer may originate outside the colorectum. Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is used to examine the colorectum and abdominopelvic organs simultaneously. We performed a prospective randomized controlled trial to quantify the frequency, nature, and consequences of extracolonic findings. Methods We studied 5384 patients from 21 UK National Health Service hospitals referred by their family doctor for the investigation of colorectal cancer symptoms from March 2004 through December 2007. The patients were assigned randomly to groups that received the requested test (barium enema or colonoscopy, n = 3574) or CTC (n = 1810). We determined the frequency and nature of extracolonic findings, subsequent investigations, ultimate diagnosis, and extracolonic cancer diagnoses 1 and 3 years after testing patients without colorectal cancer. Results Extracolonic pathologies were detected in 959 patients by CTC (58.7%), in 42 patients by barium enema analysis (1.9%), and in no patients by colonoscopy. Extracolonic findings were investigated in 142 patients (14.2%) and a diagnosis was made for 126 patients (88.1%). Symptoms were explained by extracolonic findings in 4 patients analyzed by barium enema (0.2%) and in 33 patients analyzed by CTC (2.8%). CTC identified 72 extracolonic neoplasms, however, barium enema analysis found only 3 (colonoscopy found none). Overall, CTC diagnosed extracolonic neoplasms in 72 of 1634 patients (4.4%); 26 of these were malignant (1.6%). There were significantly more extracolonic malignancies detected than expected 1 year after examination, but these did not differ between patients evaluated by CTC (22.2/1000 person-years), barium enema (26.5/1000 person-years; P = .43), or colonoscopy (32.0/1000 person-years; P = .88). Conclusions More than half of the patients with symptoms of colorectal cancer are found to have extracolonic pathologies by CTC analysis. However, the proportion of patients found to have extracolonic malignancies after 1 year of CTC examination is not significantly greater than after barium enema or colonoscopy examinations. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials no: 95152621.isrctn.com.